“When you (expletive) with your employer, you lose. If they go out of business, you lose your job,” responded the person in the car.

Confrontations like this have been occurring over the last seven days – on both sides.

“The strikers basically blocked me from entering the parking lot, so I had to back out and enter in across the street here,” said Jacob Shockley, who tried to shop a Raley’s Saturday.

“Other employees that crossed the line to scab have crossed the line and they come out and taking pictures and shouting at our other picketers here. I’ve seen the security come through here putting their two cents in,” Ng said.

And in such a volatile environment, even a simple accident could have major implications.

“And as he was coming in, they were banging on his trailer and he hit a parked car,” said Shockley, who witnessed a delivery truck hitting a car that supposedly belonged to a striking worker.

“We are in the process of investigating it. And we will get all the details, but what our initial reports are is that the strikers were trying to harass the driver and block his attempt to our bay so he could deliver his product,” said Raley’s Spokesman John Segale.

But the strikers say that’s not exactly what happened.

“We were trying to stop the truck from going any further and doing any more damage to my car or their car or anything. We’re taught by the union reps we are not to interfere with these guys. We are supposed to let everything happen , say what we need to say, but we don’t interfere in the business of Raley’s,” Ng said.

So far Raley’s and the union are trying to work out the details of a resolution, but no agreement has been met.

5 comments

PinkFridayNova

Wow, that person has a lot of nerve to say the strikers don't even work there. Really dude!? No, they're just some random people standing outside in the cold weather for hours at a time. Not every employee works up in the front at the check stand. Imagine that! Think before you make yourself sound so ignorant. FYI, Rendell is one of the best head clerks at Raley's in West Sacramento. I understand not everyone will not agree with the strike, but don't act so hostile towards the employees. No one is holding a gun to your head and telling you go shop there, especially if you think the strikers 'don't even work there'.

Maxwell Smart

Unions have to stop using 19th century thinking to solve 21st century problems. I am an economist: BA, MBA, doctorate. I know everyone reading knows basic principles of supply & demand. So I ask you:

What happens when a police, firefighter, paramedic, teaching or $20 per hour grocery position comes available?

Answer: there is a scramble for thousands of qualified applicants to apply for that vacancy. Why?

The reason is clear: the salary is too high. If the salaries declined, fewer people would apply and the supply of labor would match demand.

So what keeps salaries and wages artificially high? I can’t answer that for you. You need to determine that for yourself. But in your analysis, consider our valiant school teachers. Their salaries go up and up and the CTA continues to ask for more. And all the time our education goes down and down and down. Why?

That is an easy answer: giving more money is not the solution.

What about Raley’s strike? The strikers have articulated their position: they won’t make concessions to the stores. Let me rephrase their position as an economist hears it: we, the union, refuse to respond to the changes in the economy. We, the union, refuse to allow economic forces to determine our wages. We, the union, want more than our share.

Lastly, consider this: what if business owners went on strike? What if John Galt disappeared? What if Atlas Shrugged?

LYPH

I was asked by a union strike worker not to shop in any of the family of stores as I pushed my two young sons into the store on the shopping cart. He was speaking to another customer leaving the store but wanted to tell me that there is a Safeway down the street and could go there instead. I told him I was nauseated from early pregnancy symptoms (w/twins) and need to do what’s best for me and my kids at that moment. I didn’t think I had the extra energy to lug them and myself to another store to day. As he turned around, he spouted to the older gentlemen of how young people these days just don’t care about what Raleys is doing…trying to cut their pension. The young people just want things fast and that’s the problem w/young folk nowadays. They don’t care. I didn’t need to hear that. My decision to shop where I want is no business of his to interfere. He lost my sympathy w/that comment. Choose your battles wisely don’t mess w/pregnant women w/children!!!

mswyers71

It would be helpful when reporting on issues like this to repeat the points of contention between the two parties and not just treat it as if it were a sporting event. From what I have read, the strikers have legitimate issues which you could never surmise form this account. The last time I checked, striking is still legal in the US – for now.